Leg swelling at sea is primarily due to salt retention in the body.
Here's a detailed explanation:
How Salt Retention Causes Swelling
When you're at sea, especially during prolonged periods, your body might retain salt more than usual. This happens because of various factors such as:
- Reduced physical activity: Compared to walking around on land, your activity level might be lower on a boat. This can slow down your body's fluid and salt regulation.
- Diet: Onboard meals can be high in sodium.
- Limited access to fresh water: Being on a ship may mean limited access to fresh water, and an increased reliance on drinking water that has been desalinated.
This salt retention directly impacts fluid distribution in your body:
- Fluid Attraction: The excess salt in your bloodstream draws water out of your cells and into the surrounding tissues. This is because water follows salt to try and balance the concentration.
- Gravity's Role: Gravity pulls this excess fluid towards your lower extremities (legs and feet). Because of gravity, the tissues in these areas accumulate more fluid, leading to swelling, also known as edema.
Symptoms of Leg Swelling at Sea
Common signs include:
- Puffy ankles and feet.
- Tightness in the skin.
- Indentations when pressed.
What to do?
If you experience leg swelling at sea, some things you can do include:
- Elevate your legs: Put your feet up whenever possible, which aids in fluid drainage.
- Stay hydrated: Even with limited access to fresh water, ensure that you are drinking water.
- Moderate salt intake: If possible, choose lower-sodium food options.
- Move around: If it’s safe to do so, do some light walking around on the ship.
Reference
Salt retention in the body – when our body retains more salts, or loses it as a slower-than-normal rate, fluid is drawn into the tissues to cause swelling. The legs and feet are a common site for this. 08-Feb-2021
In summary, the main reason legs swell at sea is because of the body retaining more salt, which then draws water into the tissues, particularly in the lower limbs due to gravity.
